Homestead to have 32 degree banking!

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robby.31.is.#1

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From jayski:

more on the Homestead possible reconstruction: While there is still no official word from Homestead-Miami track executives on just what they're doing, or planning to do, with that flat 11/2-mile track, but now comes word that the track may be radically redesigned with banking as much as 32 degrees. For comparison, Bristol and Talladega are both banked 36 degrees, and Atlanta is banked 24 degrees. Some drivers yesterday said they'd like to see Homestead-Miami redesigned with at least two grooves with different banking, say 28 degrees and 32 degrees, with a smooth transition. Two weeks ago several Winston Cup crew chiefs said they've been told the track will be redesigned with 20-degree banking, which would be a considerable change from the current configuration.(Winston Salem Journal), see my Homstead page for past news(3-29-2003)
 
I posted something like this a few weeks ago and people were wondring if it was made up. I told you it was not made up!! When they do it they need to make the track out of Concrete that way there will be grooves and not a Texas type track where there is alot or room to race but only one groove
 
I doubt that Homestead will be configured any more than a 20 degree banking in the corners ...if in fact that re-configuration ever happens.
 
I still do not know if there is truth in this story. This article, like every other I have seen on the subject, is written by Mike Mulhern. No one else seems to have information or has written about this change.

Read what is written here by Mulhern carefully. No official word on plans from the track. Not even tha plans exist.

Then word comes that 32 degrees may come, but no source even hinted at. Then it seems the drivers are saying what they would like to see...which means absolutely nothing.

Then a reference to CC hearing something from nobody about 20 degress, which is a departure from earlier articles from Mulhern. Didn't he say in his last article on the subject that construction had started??

For the life of me I cannot imagine why the track personnnel would not announce such a change if there were any truth to it, nor can I imagine that if there were any truth to it that construction would not be well underway by now. It is a major project if it is be undertaken.

Can anyone find another source for this story?
 
I was skeptical from the start...just not a logical reason for it.It defies logic.Most things that are making money dont just change for no reason.Common sense 101.
 
HS, you are right, I recall one of his articles stating that construction had already begun. Until Homestead makes a statement I am chalking this up as rumor.
 
I'd love to see the track with varying degrees of banking.
 
if they raised the banking to 32 degrees, could the IRL cars still race on it? Didn't the refuse Texas because the track was too fast?
 
racerx, please don't confuse the IRL with CART. IRL runs 2 races a year at Texas (both are fantastic races!) and CART refused to run last year and has been removed from competing at TMS. ;)
 
Originally posted by majestyx@Apr 2 2003, 10:16 AM
please don't confuse the IRL with CART.
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I agree the IRL and CART are far diffrent! IRL is good racing CART is follow the leader.


But i think this will happen maybe not 32 degrees but i think it will happen and be close to 20 degrees, If they add 32 that would be great! All racing would be better at the track!
 
Personally the flat track is cool i think, makes the drivers actually have to drive the cars! LOL...anyway i went to their site and e-mailed one of the reps ....no response yet and there is nothing on their website about re-construction! Me thinks this is just a rumor!!! ;)
 
The people at the track say that there have been discussions about the possibility of re-configuring the track. But only some discussion. Nothing more.
I've noticed over the years that Mike Mulhearn tends to jump the gun on rumors from time to time. (Most of the time?)
Also, from the Jayski item, when did Daytona gain the extra two degrees of banking? Last I knew that track was 31 degrees, Talladega was 33 degrees and Bristol is supposedly 36 degrees.

It was the CART cars which were unable to run at TMS because of the speed, the forces involved and roughness of the track, which were causing vertigo in the drivers. After as few as five laps, the drivers were becoming disoriented and dizzy. Believe they were up around the 230 - 235 mph range?
The IRL cars are just a bit slower and apparently haven't experienced the problems yet.
 
LMAO.......I notice you say "supposedly 36 degrees" for Bristol. Did anyone ever say with any finality what the banking is there?

Dega is and always been 33 degrees, at least published, do not know if anyone ever measured to check that one or not.......The number in the original post is from Mulhern........need I say more.
 
HS

Yeah, Talledga was always advertised as 33 degrees.
It seems as if I saw something to the effect that the actual banking at Bristol was around 26 or 29 degrees, but can't for the life of me remember where I saw that figure.
The track and O.B. insist that it's 36.

With all the complaining about the need to repave both Daytona and Talledaga, I have to wonder just how that might be accomplished. There are no paving machines which can operate on the banking, they need to be suspended on cables from the topside of the track and with the stands which have been built around both tracks since they were originally constructed, how will those paving machines be suspended?
Just a curious thought I've had every time the repavement of those tracks is mentioned.

As for the Homestead - Miami rumor; I called the track and asked about it.
 
The question on Bristol's banking, if I remember the story right, came about when Papyrus was doing its programming for the track dynamics in their NASCAR simulations.

The engineers came out to spec the track and came up with a number far less than had ever been advertised. Got a feeling they were told the banking was 36 degrees and that was that. Can't imagine how they got convinced their measurements were wrong.............heard the engineer muttered something about licensing, but I would have assumed he had an engineering license. :eek:
 
Originally posted by boB@Apr 3 2003, 03:53 PM
It seems as if I saw something to the effect that the actual banking at Bristol was around 26 or 29 degrees, but can't for the life of me remember where I saw that figure.
The track and O.B. insist that it's 36.
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I think when they put dirt down on Bristol they knocked the banking down to about 26 - 29 degrees.

What did the Homestead-Miami track say when you called them?
 
I would be willing to bet that the actual degree of banking at Bristol is nearer the 26 -29 degree figure than 36 degrees. Don't forget that the owner of the track who is giving that 36 degree figure is a used car dealer...

Folks at the Homestead - Miami Speedway said that reconfiguration has been discussed, no plans or anything else; simply been discussed.

I cannot understand why so many NASCAR fans complain about cookie-cutter tracks and yet they all want more cookie-cutter tracks. Just beyond my comprehension and makes absolutely no sense at all.
 
Leave it as it is and let the drivers have to drive!The configuration as it is makes for good racing.This steep banking talk is just much ado about nothing.


And Talladega is just plain scary.I know----neccesary for the speeds---but still take the tour van around that place and catch your breath! :)
 
The configuration as it is makes for good racing
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i disagree, they cant pass there, increasing the banking would most likely make more then one racing groove, which is all the track has now
 
Originally posted by toddgee24@Apr 3 2003, 05:02 PM
The configuration as it is makes for good racing
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i disagree, they cant pass there, increasing the banking would most likely make more then one racing groove, which is all the track has now
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Martin started 34th and finished 4th.J.Gordon started 37th and finished 5th.Those guys passed sombody!The term 'one-groove' track is most likely used by those drivers who have a hard time passing on any track,imo.12 lead changes among 6 drivers last year compares pretty well to Darlington last spring(11/8)or Bristol last fall(10/7).Didn't mean to sound argumentive,I just dont always buy that 'one racing groove' stuff.
 
dont worry about sounding argumentative, i just dont see the configuration now being competitive, like new hampshire, i think banking would help this, how many of thos lead changes were under caution tho?
 
It is advertised as 36 degrees at bristol, 33 degrees at talledega, and 31 degrees at daytona. this is in the corners only. straightaways and the triovals are always less but different at different tracks.
:cheers:
 
We know what the advertised banking figures are; some of us just question how accurate those figures are, especially the 36 degree number for Bristol. I'd like to see an engineering figure, just out of curiousity.
 
Sorry if my response doesn't take the fulle context of other posts into account, but I just have to say:

Interesting comment on the state of fans, drivers and mechanics.
 
Like i said in an earlier post on this subject ...the drivers actually get to drive at Homestead, not a track that you can drive fast through the corners. You even have to use the brakes to slow down imagine that! All these fans who complain about tracks being similiar should trake a look at what they said. As far as New Hampshire goes that track needs somewhat of a different radius in the corners and a different asphalt compound that won't tear up under the heavy Cup cars. I think Homestead is a great track and i like watching the Cup,Busch and Trucks race there.
 
Originally posted by Mopardh9@Apr 3 2003, 09:38 PM
Like i said in an earlier post  on this subject ...the drivers actually get to drive at Homestead, not a track that you can drive fast through the corners. You even have to use the brakes to slow down imagine that!
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AH come on Mopar!!! Why would anyone want that?
 
Originally posted by Mopardh9@Apr 3 2003, 09:38 PM
As far as New Hampshire goes that track needs somewhat of a different radius in the corners and a different asphalt compound that won't tear up under the heavy Cup cars.
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The problem with New Hampshire is not the asphalt compound. It's not the corner radius. And contrary to what many people claim, it is NOT that the banking is only 12 degrees; it's that the banking is convex - meaning, it decreases as you move up the track. I've been there several times, and you can tell even with the naked eye that there is far less banking against the wall than at the bottom of the track (not counting the new groove). If the banking remained at a constant 12 degrees at all lanes of the corners, I guarantee that there would be more passing there.
 
Hmmm interesting why would they build a track with banking like that? I never heard of such a thing? In fact, i would venture a guess that if called Mr B. he would tell you otherwise, i could be wrong, but just my hunch. ;)
 
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